National Republican., 1887-08-24
PORK BUTCHERS MEET.
They VIII Make No Concessions 70 the
Journeymen.

They VIII Make No Concessions 20 the
Journeymen.
In Cosmopolitan Hall, at the corner OF
Eighth and L streets northwest, last night
were gathered about thirty ruddy-faced
gentlemen, composing the Pork Butchers
Association Of the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Fred. Dietz, gentleman of mature
years but with firm and intellectual face,
occupied the chair, while Mr.. Charles G..
Phuger, good looking but young "boss,"
Mr.. Dletz briefly stated the object of the
meeting, which was TO take action regard
ing the trouble between the bosses aud
journeymen.
1t was resolved to remedy any evil VIII ch
might exist between the men and the
bosses, but not at q sacrifice OF principle
to the bosses. They maintain (the bosses)
that their men struck without reason and
obeyed the injunction of the Knights OF
Labor, when that organization knew
nothing whatever OF the troubles.
One Of the bosses, whose name IL IS not
necessary TO mention, said, "We stand
ready to do the right thing by our men who
went out, but they won't allow us to do so.
They expect to work eight or ten hours for
the stipulated number-twelye.n
Another one said: 81 had q foreman In
my employ who after having worked on one
occasion. and when there were several dozen
hogs half cleaned, struck at o'clock, and
said he was bound to lay down his knife by
the rules Of the union. This man was at the
head of gaug Of men, who followed him
and left my meat, SO that 1t spoiled"
Other bosses gave their experiences, to
the effect that their men had, from time to
time, acted treacherously to them; they
would sleep between times, so that they
would not actually, put in more than eight
or nine hours any day.
,,....'I will briefly tell my experience said
avery handsome gentleman named Frank
Augusterfer. 'John Schafer,n he said,
''the foreman and fireman OF my establish
ment, and at present president Of the Pork
Butchers Journeymen's Union, left work
at about o'clock one day with forty
pounds Of steam on his engine. callei
IDS attention to the fact that he was leaving
me under peculiar circumstances, and he
said: Il am directed to leave you at the end
Of twelve hours work, whether your boiler
Is full or not"
'"This,n said Mr.. Augusterfcr, ''is sthe
way In which we have been treated, aud !
peal to the fair-minded people OF the
town to soy whether or not We have parse
cuted our men or not"
Another member Of the association said
Il would rather employ union men than
Don.union men, but If the former insist on
attempting to build up their cause by preju-
diclpg the people on their side by misrepre
septisg the facts In the case, then mean
to fight. We have not at auy time vio-
lated q single pledge; on the contrary, we
have kept faith with our men as rigidly as
any set OF employers ever did. The whole
matter is misunderstanding, aud the
sooner our men arrive at that conclusion
the better"
Another boss wound up the nights work
by saying: "You reporters are all wrong
when you say that the pork butchers only
receive about four or 1--WE dollars week.
There are scarcely any who receive less
than S, or IS per week, and then, II they
are married men, they get their meat free"
The journeymen butchers met last night
and agreed to hold out until the Knights OF
Labor required them TO return to work.